Gingerbread Bars – Christmas Dessert Ideas

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Ah, the holiday season calls for some irresistible gingerbread treats, and these Gingerbread Bars are exactly what you need. They’re loaded with flavors like butter, brown sugar, molasses, and a cozy blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Plus, they’re topped with a creamy cream cheese buttercream frosting. Get ready to indulge in these delights!

Ingredients:

For the Gingerbread Bars:

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar (add more if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or your choice of milk
  • Pinch of salt
  • Sprinkles (if you’re feeling extra festive)

Instructions:

Let’s whip up these delightful Gingerbread Bars:

  1. First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper, and you’re all set.
  2. In a big mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and brown sugar using a mixer until the mixture turns light and fluffy. Now, add the egg and beat until it’s smooth. Next, pour in the molasses and mix until everything’s nicely combined.
  3. Here’s where the magic happens. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of salt. Mix it all up until you have a wonderful gingerbread dough.
  4. Since the dough is a bit sticky, lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray. Now, press this delicious dough into your prepared pan. Pop it in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. Once it’s done, let it cool completely before you move on to the frosting.

And now, for the cream cheese frosting:

  1. It’s time to make the frosting dreams come true. Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until they’re smooth and creamy, which should take about 4-5 minutes.
  2. Add in the powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a tiny pinch of salt. Beat for another 4 minutes until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Now, that’s what we’re talking about!
  3. Spread this heavenly frosting all over your cooled gingerbread bars.
  4. Feeling fancy? Add some sprinkles for that extra festive touch.

There you have it! You’ve just whipped up a batch of Gingerbread Bars that are perfect for the holiday season. Enjoy every bite of these sweet and spicy delights.

Gingerbread Bars - Christmas Dessert Ideas

Gingerbread Bars - Christmas Dessert Ideas

Ingredients

  • For the Gingerbread Bars:
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar (add more if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or your choice of milk
  • Pinch of salt
  • Sprinkles (if you're feeling extra festive)

Instructions

Let's whip up these delightful Gingerbread Bars:

  1. First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper, and you're all set.
  2. In a big mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and brown sugar using a mixer until the mixture turns light and fluffy. Now, add the egg and beat until it's smooth. Next, pour in the molasses and mix until everything's nicely combined.
  3. Here's where the magic happens. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of salt. Mix it all up until you have a wonderful gingerbread dough.
  4. Since the dough is a bit sticky, lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray. Now, press this delicious dough into your prepared pan. Pop it in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. Once it's done, let it cool completely before you move on to the frosting.

And now, for the cream cheese frosting:

  1. It's time to make the frosting dreams come true. Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until they're smooth and creamy, which should take about 4-5 minutes.
  2. Add in the powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a tiny pinch of salt. Beat for another 4 minutes until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Now, that's what we're talking about!
  3. Spread this heavenly frosting all over your cooled gingerbread bars.
  4. Feeling fancy? Add some sprinkles for that extra festive touch.

There you have it! You've just whipped up a batch of Gingerbread Bars that are perfect for the holiday season. Enjoy every bite of these sweet and spicy delights.

© Maria

 

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